One caregiver. Who shows up, knows the routine, and clicks with your family.
Tell us what’s going on. A real person presents qualified caregivers experienced with complex situations involving conditions like Parkinson's disease and various dementias. You choose the right fit and hire them directly.
Tell us what you need. A real person follows up within a day.
- Safety-screened
- Complex-care experienced
- Guided by clinicians
Outside Central Virginia? Get the care app & tell us where you are →
Your CarePro.
Your choice.
You choose the person. We provide the support.
- Payroll handled for you.
- Help arranging backup care.
- The system you don’t have to build yourself. Our continuity app keeps everyone aligned, with one place to communicate, record changes, keep emergency information handy, and manage medications, schedules, tasks, and payroll.
Matching and support included for $389/month.
| Agency | With Alula | |
|---|---|---|
| Family paysper month | $6,928 | $5,150 |
| Caregiver earnsper hour | $17 | $25 |
All of that, for about $1,780 less a month than an agency.
Alula total includes caregiver pay, estimated employer costs, and our $389 fee. Actual costs vary.
How we calculated this
This example uses 40 hours/week and 4.33 weeks/month, with an agency charging $40/hour and paying its caregiver $17/hour. The directly hired caregiver earns $25/hour.
| Monthly cost | Agency example | Alula example |
|---|---|---|
| Caregiver wages | $2,944 | $4,330 |
| Agency costs & margin | $3,984 | — |
| Employer-cost allowance | Included above | $431 |
| Alula service fee | — | $389 |
| Family total | $6,928 | $5,150 |
The $431 employer-cost allowance is an illustrative estimate, not a tax or insurance quote. Your family is the employer. Taxes, insurance, benefits, and overtime can change the total. Agency rates and caregiver wages vary. Amounts are rounded to whole dollars.
Tell us what you need. A real person follows up within a day.
How it works
Tell us what you need
Talk with a real person about your family and daily routine.
Choose your caregiver
Meet caregivers we’ve screened. You choose who to hire.
We handle the setup
We arrange payroll, handle paperwork, and help you plan backup care.
Stay on the same page
Keep messages, schedules, medications, and care updates together in your continuity app.
What safety-screened means here
The state minimum is not a fit signal.
Virginia sets a baseline for home care organizations. Before Alula presents a direct-hire candidate, we add a deeper verification step around criminal history, references, complex-care experience, and fit for your family.
Virginia baseline
Required before agency employment
- Sworn criminal-history disclosure
- Virginia criminal record report
- Barrier-crime review
Alula verification
- 7-year criminal-history review
- 159-category safety review
- Reference and fit conversations before we present anyone to you
- Complex-care experience reviewed for your family situation
Find my caregiver
Tell us what is happening. A real person will reach out within 24 hours.
Tell us about your family
No commitment. No fee until you're ready.
Built by People Who've Lived It
Alula was founded by two families here in Charlottesville. Bridgid and Jason have helped Bridgid's parents through complex care needs for years. Kathryn and Justin are clinicians and educators who help shape the questions we ask and the guidance families receive.
Guidance for every stage of the journey
Browse all articles →
Common Questions
What does it cost?
Our service fee is $389 per month. Agencies make their margin by marking up the hours they sell; Alula charges a flat monthly fee instead. You pay your caregiver directly, and our fee covers matching, payroll setup, verification, the care management app, ongoing support, and access to the backup network.
What does the care management app do?
The app keeps your care plan, emergency plans, Care Pro briefs, medications, appointments, documents, and updates visible to your family circle. Your family can see what's happening, step in when they can, and get gentle check-ins that help keep doses, tasks, and follow-ups on track. Appointment prep helps you know what to ask the doctor before the next visit.
What happens if our caregiver is sick or on vacation?
We help you plan coverage and can connect you to screened backup options when available in your area. We don't pretend backup is automatic; we make sure there is a real plan instead of leaving you to improvise.
What if it doesn't work out with the caregiver?
We help you find a replacement. You're not on your own.
We've never hired someone directly before — is this complicated?
That's exactly why we exist. We help with matching, payroll setup, employment paperwork, and the practical questions that make direct hiring feel hard.
Where do you serve?
Central Virginia — Harrisonburg, Staunton, Charlottesville, and Richmond. We take a limited number of families at a time, so everyone gets real attention. If you're nearby, reach out and we'll tell you honestly whether we can help.
The Alula care app
The app lets your whole family see care as it happens.
Your family gets the care management app so your Care Pro and anyone stepping in can see what is happening: the plan, daily routine, emergency instructions, medications, appointments, documents, and updates.
Care Pro briefs, family check-ins, medication tracking, appointment prep, and quiet-day prompts keep details from getting missed and make small problems easier to catch early.
Outside Central Virginia? You can still get early access to the app and tell us where caregiver matching should come next.
Included with caregiver matching. Standalone early access is free for now.
Get early access
The app today, plus first-in-line when caregiver matching reaches your area.
Care Pro brief
Martha shared today's brief: lunch went well, the walk was shorter, mood lifted after music.
Shared with family
Family check-in
How are things going with Martha, your Care Pro?
Checking in
Appointment prep
Your appointment prep package is ready.
Questions prepared
Care Pro nudge
Hi Martha, we don't have your brief yet for today. Can you let the family know what happened today?
Follow-up open
Medication trend
John's medication adherence has improved. Good work, team.
On track